Varian, Inc. · Palo Alto, CA United States ·(NASDAQ (GS): VARI)

For Varian, variety is instrumental. The company is among the largest makers of scientific instruments and equipment. Varian's line features chromatography and optical spectroscopy systems for chemical analysis. Its offerings extend to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy systems key to biomedicine and materials research, and vacuum technologies, such as high-vacuum pumps and helium leak detectors. The company makes disposable products, too, used in industrial and scientific research. For the most part North American, customers include Dow Chemical, DuPont, KLA-Tencor, Monsanto, Pfizer, and Procter & Gamble. In 2009 Agilent's offer to buy Varian for $1.5 billion was approved by the boards of both companies. To read the full description, subscribe now.